Human Geography essays

GEOG 102 Final: Take-Home Portion This is the take-home portion of the final. It counts as a part of the final. Though you have a week and can use

your book, any extra material we’ve covered in class, and other sources, remember that this is still part of your

test. It is worth ½ of the final exam grade. Plagiarism (using someone else’s work as your own without

attribution) on this or any part of the final will cause you to receive a 0 in the class. You will probably need to

look at other sources—library books, articles, websites, etc.—to address these questions, so please make sure

you cite your sources.

Each essay must be 1000-1500 words. Single-spaced, 12pt Times New Roman, with normal margins is preferred.

Your essays need to be in an essay format, including 1) a thesis statement, 2) paragraphs of evidence backing up

your thesis, and 3) an introduction and conclusion. Spelling, grammar, and structure will all be graded. Each

question has multiple bullet points. Make sure you address each one in your answer, integrating all the points

into a cohesive whole—don’t write separate mini-essays for each bullet point.

You will submit your essays in one document to the SafeAssign link in the ‘Exams’ section of Blackboard by

11:59pm on Friday, December 20. I will not accept nor grade documents emailed to me—they must be

submitted through Blackboard. You can submit your essays either before or after you take the online portion of

the final.

Part I – Everyone does this one

Cities

Part II – Choose two of the following

1. Race and Ethnicity

2. Nationalism

3. Economics

4. Globalization

Part I

Cities:  Choose a city (not a town, village, or suburb) and show how this city is important to the world. Wisely

select a few supporting arguments from any content area—globalization, trade, manufacturing,

agriculture, finance, governance, geopolitics, culture, religion, and so on—to back up your case.

 Discuss the history of the city’s urban development and its urban networks.

Part II

Race and Ethnicity:  Discuss the history of race and ethnicity in the United States. What were the major events that changed

American perceptions race and ethnicity? Place them in their proper historical contexts.

 What might the ethnic map of the United States look like in 50 years? Back up your arguments with

supporting evidence. (Note: you don’t have to actually draw a map for this question, just discuss it.)

Nationalism:  The modern state system is engaged in a struggle between the forces of supranationalism and

devolution. Define both terms and give an example of each.

 With reference to the political and economic geographies of a region of your choice, discuss three

(social, political, cultural, etc.) changes resulting from supranationalism. Then discuss three (social,

political, cultural, etc.) changes resulting from devolution in that same region.

 How does nationalism affect processes of supranationalism and devolution, and how do those processes

in turn affect nationalism?

Economics:  Chart the development of capitalism. Where and when did it start? Discuss how major historical

processes, developments, discoveries, and technological innovation affected capitalism.

 What is the nature of the relationship between a capitalist economy and government? How has that

relationship changed over the course of the development of capitalism? In light of capitalism’s uneven

development, compare that relationship between capitalism and government in developed (First World)

and developing (Third World) countries. Use specific examples.

Globalization:  The world is becoming increasingly globalized, which has interestingly caused a rise in importance of

local, regional, and other non-civic identities (such as religious, ethnic, etc.). Give a comprehensive

definition of globalization, including all the forms it takes, and then discuss why there is resistance to

that process and why. Where is this resistance? Who are these people that are resisting globalization?

 Discuss how globalization has affected society, culture, economics, and politics in at least two different

places over the past 40 years.